The Dept. of Homeland Security is funding the installation of a number of anti-missile defense systems on commercial jets flying in and out of JFK Airport. The tests are the third stage of testing of a system that is already used by military aircraft. The defense system consists of equipment affixed to the bottom of the aircraft that electronically jams the heat-seeking component of shoulder filed missiles. The latter are referred to as man portable air defense systems, or MANPADs. The current test of the anti-MANPAD systems on jets is to see how the equipment holds up on the real world operating conditions of a commercial jet.

Commercial airlines, including American Airlines, object to the widespread installation of anti-missile systems on their jets, for which they or taxpayers would bear the cost. The estimated cost per jet ranges from $500,000 to $1 million. The cost of a new Boeing 787 class jet depending on the model and configuration ranges from $146 million to $200 million.

American Airlines contends that money would be better spent physically securing the approach and departure zones around the nation's airports. In June, law enforcement officials arrested a number of men for allegedly plotting an attack against JFK that involved blowing up an aviation fuel pipeline and planting bombs aboard several jets. One of the accused plotters was a baggage handler at the airport. Federal officials point to the incidents of attempted MANPAD attacks on commercial airlines and conducted a sting operation in Newark and Albany that resulted in several people being arrested for attempting to smuggle shoulder-fired missiles into the country.

Image of MANPAD from the Federation of American Scientists